Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change? novel Chapter 1174

Two days later.

Afternoon.

Gilbert’s phone buzzed. It was Sherilyn. When he answered, he could hear both her and their daughter chatting on the other end.

Sherilyn: “It’s connected, Jenna. Talk to Daddy.”

There was a bit of shuffling, then Jenna’s tiny, sweet voice piped up, “Uh…hello? Hello? Daddy, can you hear Jenna?”

Gilbert’s lips curled into a wide grin. “Daddy can hear you, Jenna! What do you want to tell Daddy?”

“Daddy,” Jenna said, her voice as soft as whipped cream. “Mommy made your favorite roast chicken today! Me and Mommy are waiting for you to come home so we can eat together.”

“Roast chicken? Mommy’s special recipe?” Gilbert’s heart melted instantly. “That already sounds delicious. I’ll make sure to come home early, then.”

Jenna handed the phone back to her mother. “Mommy, Daddy said he’s coming home early!”

Sherilyn laughed as she took the phone. Her voice was gentle and warm, this time directed at Gilbert. “So, can you come home for dinner tonight?”

“I can,” Gilbert replied, his chuckle deep and soft. “I’ll be off work on time. No business dinners tonight.”

“Alright. Jenna and I will wait for you.”

“Perfect.”

Gilbert put his phone down, glanced at the stack of paperwork in front of him, and dove back into work.

A few moments later, his phone rang again.

This time, it was Nolan.

“Mr. Nine.”

“Yeah?” Gilbert’s brows furrowed slightly. “Go ahead.”

“We found Caroline. She flew back from Cambodia and landed in Sunhaven.”

Just as expected. Gilbert’s eyes darkened a little.

“Send her to Golden Oak Manor first,” he instructed.

He’d already spoken to his older brother earlier, knew he was busy with a project out by the city border, nowhere near downtown.

“Yes, Mr. Nine.”

…

At the airport.

Caroline was sitting in a waiting lounge, her face calm—stone-cold, really. No joy, no sadness, no anger. Just…nothing.

When Gilbert walked in, she glanced at him and gave a faint smile. “Long time no see.”

Long time? Not really. Barely two weeks.

Gilbert’s expression was complicated. He got straight to the point. “Are you making a scene because you don’t want your leg treated? Planning to spend your whole life in a wheelchair?”

Every illness had its window for the best treatment. Even the Mayo Clinic didn’t have a 100% success rate.

Caroline stared at him with a cold, almost mocking smile. “Funny. You make it sound like you actually care about me.”

Gilbert fell silent.

She looked away, her voice bitter. “You want my leg fixed just so you can feel less guilty. That’s all this is about.”

Her lips twisted into a wry, painful smile. “You’re all the same. You just want to get rid of me. Nobody actually cares.”